Pennsylvania Animal Diagnostic Laboratory System
PADLS Conferences Spring 2001 14. WNV PA Dpt Hlth
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In cooperation with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and the Department of Environmental Protection, the Department of Health, Bureau of Laboratories performed surveillance for West Nile virus infection in mosquitoes, birds, horses, and humans during the spring, summer and fall of the year 2000.

In order to perform their responsibility, the Bureau of Laboratories increased its capacity by developing a Biological Safety Level 3 suite of laboratories, hiring new technical and clerical staff, increasing the physical security of the facility and testing laboratories, and instituting new testing procedures such as TaqMan PCR. Staff was trained at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Fort Collins, Colorado and the New York State Laboratory in Albany.

A protocol for testing was developed which permitted rapid turnaround time so that effective remediation could be performed by the Department of Environmental Protection.

Changes have been initiated for 2001 which both increase capacity and efficiency.

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